Musical instrument



June 5, 1928. I 1,672,386

w. LILLY MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Filed Jan. 18, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 awweu to:

William Jilly Patented June 5, 1928.

} I 1,572,386 PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM LILLY, on NEW YORK, N. Y.

MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

Application filed January 18, 1926.

This invention-relates to musical instruments and more especially to stringed instr ments having drumheads.

An object of this invention isa vibrationless mute which does not affect the tonal qualities, is operable without appreciable change of the instruments position from.

normalto obtain a graduated effect, and which may be easily attached permanently to any standard instrument of this type.

According to this invention, the mute is supported from the brace common to instruments of this type and is operated by a lever arranged to rest against the body when the instrument is held in thenormal manner. Pressure against the lever brings the mute into contact with the under side of the head in alignment with the bridge. Noninetallic tension members are provided normally to maintain themute out of engagementwith the head. Provision ismade to house the operating lever completely within thehead when-not in use, so'that the instrument Will readily fit within an ordinary instrument case. In the preferred embodiment, the mute may be made use of in a resonatorequipped instrument.

Other objects, novel features and advantages of this device will be apparentfrom the following specification and accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a rear elevation of a resonatorequipped instrument embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is anenlarged view of the rear of the head with the resonator shown in section;

Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of the mute; i

Fig. 4. is a section on the line t of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a View similar to Fig. 2 of a modified form Fig. 6 is a section on the line 6 -6 of Fig. 5; and

Fig. 7 is a detail perspective view of the mute of Figs. 5 and 6.- I I Referring now to Figs. 1 to 1 inclusive, 10

, represents the head of a banjo equipped with a resonator 11, while 12 represents the finger board which is providedwith thegusual pegs 13. lt is the usual brace which removably mountedin the head in any well-known manner.

. On the end of the brace remote from the finger board is provided a bracket 15 having Serial No. 81,927.

two apertured ears. A lever 16 having a U-shaped end is hinged to the bracket 15 by a bolt 17 passing through apertures in the legs of the Uand the apertures in t'hebracket 15. This lever is arranged on the side of the brace corresponding to the side of the finger board 12 upon which the peg 13 "for the short fitth string is mounted. The lever is provided with an arm underlying the brace and upon which is mounted a bar 18 having hooks 19 at either nd. A plate 20 having hooks is attached to the brace at a point near the end thereof opposite the end upon which the bracket 15 is mounted. Nonmetallic resilient members 21, such as rubber bands, extend "from eachv hook or" the plate 20 to the book 19 corresponding thereto and provide means for norn'ially drawing the bar 18 toward the brace. A guide member 22 is attached to the brace intermediate the plate 20 and is bent to form with the brace a slot for the lever 16 to operate in. The guide member 22 prevents lateral swing oi the lever 16 and also: actsas a stop for the lever. A felt lining is provided for the member 22 to act as a cushion for the lever 16. Just beyond the guide member 22, the lever 16 is bent away from the brace and terminates within the head. The free end of the lever 16' supports a threaded member 23 which tei minates within the resonator 11 and upon which is screwed the shank 24 of a button 25, the resonator 11 being provided with an aperture through which the shank 2d of the button 25 passes.

An instrument provided with a mute of this character isheld in the normal position, and when so held the button 25, because of the arrangement of the lever 16 on the side ofthe brace which corresponds to the peg for the fifth string, rests naturally against the body of the player. When it is desired to operate the mute, the player simply presses the instrumentcloser to his body, thereby swinging the lever 16 on its pivot to bring the mute into contact with the head. Such action will not necessitate any substantial changeot position of the instrument nor will it be noticeable to an observer. lVhen it is desired to place an instrument provided with this type of mute in its case, it is necessary only to remove the button 25, and as all theremaining parts lie completely within the head, the instrument may then be easily placed in its case.

The modification disclosed in Figs. 5 to 7 fnciusive is adapted for use with instruments not provided with a resonator. In these figures, 10 again designates the head, 12 the finger board,'14 the brace, 16 the lever, 18 the mute bar equipped with hooks 19, and 20 the plate equipped with hooks between which and the hooks 19 are provided nonmetallic resilient members 21, wnile 22 is the guide member for the lever 16. In this modification, the lever 16 is made up in two sections pivoted together. The section 16 is provided with a button 25 adapted to engagethe body of the player. The section 16 is of such length that it may be swung into the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 5 and be completely within the confines of the head. A lip 26 is provided on themain section of the lever 16 to limit the swinging movement of the section 16 to a position in alignment with the major portion. WVith this modification also, the instrument is held in the normal position, and when it is desired to operate the mute the player merely presses the instrument closer to his body,

thereby bringing the mute into contact with the drumhead. When it is desired to put the instrument in its case, the section 16 is swung into the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 5, and as it is then completely within the confines of the head, the instrument may be readily slipped into its case.

The mute bar 18 is equipped with a strip of suitable material 27, which may be of any one of a number of materials according to the efiect desired. Felt preferably is used, as this material gives the effect most desired. However, the strip 27 might be composed of cork, bakelite, rubber, celluloid, or even metal, if a mandolin tone is desired. Preferably, however, the strip is composed of felt and a metal cover is provided which, if the metallic effect is desired, may be slipped over the felt strip.

As the mute is attached solely to the brace, it may be readily attached to any standard instrument either by removing the brace, attaching the mute and replacing the brace, or by attaching the device to the brace while in position. No part of the support for the mute comes in contact with the rim of the head and the tonal qualities of the instrument are in no way affected by the mute. The lever 16, by virtue ofthe double-hinged connection and the felt-lined guide strip is vibrationless and operates noiselessly. As the resilient members 21 are, of non-metallic material, they are noiseless. even when vibrating and permit of ready adjustment of the tension on the bar 18. The lining in the hook portion of the guide member 22 serves as a shock-absorbing stop to prevent the bar 18 striking the brace. Also the guide bar 22 prevents lateral swinging of the lever 16 even if the instrument be severely struck, and with the double hinge effectively prevents vibration of the lever. Banjos equipped with either modification may be kept in their cases without removal of the mute.

It is, of course, understood that various structural modifications can be made without in any way departing from the spirit of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim is new and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. In a stringed musical instrument having a drumhead and a brace, a lever hinged to said brace, a mute bar carried by said lever between said brace and said drumhead, and an operating member hinged to the free end of said lever and adapted to engage the body of the player. I V

2. In a stringed musical instrument having a drumhead and a brace, a lever hinged to said brace, a mute carried by said lever between said brace and said drumhead, a member carried by said brace and forming therewith a guide slot for said lever, said slot being lined with cushioning material.

.3. In a stringed musical instrument having a drumhead and a brace, a lever hinged to said brace, a bar supported by said lever between said brace and said drumhead, hooks carried by said bar, a plate having hooks mounted on said brace, and resilient means extending between the hooks on said bar and of said plate.

4. In a stringed musical instrument having a drumhead and a brace, a lever hinged to said brace, a bar supported by said lever between said brace and said drumhead, hooks carried by said bar, a plate having hooks mounted on said brace, and non-metallic resilient means extending between the hooks on said bar and of said plate.

5. In a stringed musical instrument having a drumhead and a brace, a double-eared bracket mounted on said brace, a lever having a U portion hinged to said cars. a plate on said brace, a bar supported by said lever, non-metallic resilient members connecting the ends of said bar and plate, a member mounted on said brace and forming therewith a guide slot for said lever, and means carried by said lever adapted to engage the body of the player of the instrument,said means being detachably connected so that no portion of the operating mechanism projects beyond the head. 7

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

WILLIAM LILLY. 

